[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11402-11403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5784]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Packaging Material Standards for Flat-Size Periodicals and 
Standard Mail

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: To ensure that packages maintain their integrity during 
transportation and processing, the Postal Service plans to prohibit use 
of string and rubber bands to secure packages of flat-size Periodicals 
and Standard Mail when prepared on pallets. Mailers are also hereby 
notified that, in the future, the Postal Service plans to prohibit use 
of string and rubber bands to secure packages of flat-size Periodicals 
and Standard Mail prepared in sacks.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mail 
Preparation and Standards, USPS Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 
Room 6800, Washington, DC 20260-2405. Copies of all written comments 
will be available for inspection and photocopying at USPS Headquarters 
Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington, DC between 9 
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn M. Martin, (202) 268-6351.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Many packages of Periodicals and Standard 
Mail, tendered to the Postal Service either on pallets or in sacks, do 
not maintain their integrity during transportation to postal plants and 
during postal processing. The Postal Service must redirect the 
resulting loose packages or broken packages (individual pieces) to 
manual operations for additional processing. If packages lose their 
integrity while being processed on small parcel and bundle sorters 
(SPBSs), this can cause machine slowdowns and stoppages, and can also 
result in these packages being manually processed by postal employees.
    Experience shows that packages that are secured together using 
string or rubber bands are the most likely to loose their integrity. A 
study performed on behalf of the Postal Service Engineering and 
Development Center confirmed that packages prepared with string or 
rubber bands are the most likely to break, and that the tendency for 
these packages to break increases as the thickness of the package 
increases. This study also showed that for packages prepared with 
plastic strapping, the greater the thickness of the package, the more 
likely it is for the package to remain intact.
    The Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) working group on 
Pallet, Container and Package Integrity independently confirmed that 
packages prepared with string and rubber bands are the most likely to 
break, resulting in increased costs for the Postal Service, and 
increased time to process the pieces in those packages. Accordingly, 
this MTAC work group supports the Postal Service's proposal to prohibit 
the use of string and rubber bands to secure packages for flat-size 
Standard and Periodicals Mail that is presented to the Postal Service 
on pallets. The Postal Service also believes that mailers should not 
use string or rubber bands to prepare packages of flat-size mail that 
are placed in sacks. In order to ease the burden imposed on mailers who 
currently use rubber bands and string to secure flat-

[[Page 11403]]

size packages in sacks, the Postal Service is not proposing to prohibit 
use of string and rubber bands on packages of flat-size mail placed in 
sacks at this time. Mailers are advised, however, that such a 
prohibition will be proposed in the future and should begin to plan 
accordingly.
    A clarification that wire or metal strapping is not permissible 
banding material for flat-size mail prepared in sacks has also been 
included in these proposed revisions to packaging standards.
    The Postal Service is proposing to implement this revision to the 
mail preparation standards on July 1, 1999.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites comments on 
the following proposed revisions of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), 
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 
CFR part 111.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure.

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

    2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual as set 
forth below:
M  Mail Preparation and Sortation
M000  General Preparation Standards
* * * * *
M020  Packages and Bundles
1.0  BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *
1.4  Palletization
    [Amend 1.4 to read as follows:]
    Packages and bundles on pallets must be able to withstand normal 
transit and handling without breakage or injury to USPS employees. 
Heavy-gauge shrinkwrap over plastic banding, shrinkwrap alone, or 
banding material alone is acceptable if the package or bundle can stay 
together during normal processing. Except for packages and bundles of 
individually polywrapped pieces, packages and bundles on BMC pallets 
must be shrinkwrapped. Packages and bundles of individually polywrapped 
pieces on BMC pallets may be secured with banding material only. All 
packages and bundles on BMC pallets must be machinable on BMC parcel 
sorters. Machinability is determined by the USPS. If banding material 
is used to secure packages, it must be applied at least once around the 
length and once around the girth. String, string-like material closed 
with a tie, rubber bands, wire, and metal strapping are prohibited 
banding materials.
* * * * *
2.0  ADDITIONAL STANDARDS--FIRST-CLASS MAIL, PERIODICALS, AND STANDARD 
MAIL (A)
* * * * *
2.2  Flat-Size Pieces
    [Amend 2.2 to read as follows:]
    Flat-size pieces are subject to these packaging standards:
    a. Flat-size pieces must always be secured into packages, unless 
excepted by standard. Wire and metal strapping must not be used as 
banding materials.
    b. For Periodicals and Standard Mail prepared on pallets, string, 
string-like material closed with a tie, and rubber bands must not be 
used as banding material. For both palletized and sacked mail, it is 
recommended that plastic strapping or shrink-wrap, or both, be used to 
secure packages.
    c. Though not subject to a specific thickness limit, packages of 
flat-size pieces must be secure and stable. Packages are subject to 
specific weight limits if palletized.
* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 to reflect these changes 
will be published if the proposal is adopted.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 99-5784 Filed 3-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P